According to the author of the Gorgeously Green newsletter, Sophie, "Between playing in the water, morning hikes and weekend picnics, it's easy for our skin to get a little damaged during the summer months. Even if you wear sunscreen religiously, you'll see the effects of the sun on your face by the time fall rolls around. That's why September is the month to do some serious exfoliation and get your skin bright and glowing again!"

The fact is, exfoliation is the key to keeping skin cell turnover from slowing down and it keeps skin looking young and fresh. Exfoliation is simply the process of washing with something granular to slough off the top layer of dead skin cells. And it's the trick folks who seem to age slowly use several times a week.

I love taking things from the kitchen and mixing up concoctions I can use in the bathe. And I've used cornmeal and coconut oil as an exfoliator for about 15 years now. Others I know like to use sugar or salt. You can buy fancy, lovely-smelling exfoliators, but the smart, green, and frugal way is to make your own.

On her newsletter site (www.gorgeouslygreen.com), Sophie shares how to make your own lavender-rose body scrub. She uses dried lavender flowers, dried rose petals, Dead Sea Salt, Sweet Almond or Grape Seed Oil, and about 20 drops Geranium Essential Oil and 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil. The proportions are 1/2 cups of flowers and petals, about 2 cups of salt and maybe 3 tablespoons of almond or grape seed oil.

It's not an exact science—you don't really need a recipe. I've made this using more essential oils and no rose petals, etc. Whatever you do, it'll be great.

Simply mix all the ingredients really well in a medium-sized bowl. When you are done, spoon the mixture into a mason jar or any jar that has a good seal. Sophie suggests doubling or tripling the recipe to make 2 or 3 lovely gifts at the same time. (Note: Sophie likes to order her lavender, rose petals, etc., from the online company, Mountain Rose Herbs.)

And if you'd rather just use what you have? Look to olive oil, salt or sugar, lemons, and vanilla as ingredients for a great skin scrub. And adding cinnamon to this creates a wonderful aroma too. And if you're not already, try growing some lavender in your landscaping or in a windowsill pot. Harvest the seeds and save for making your own scrubs.

The reason I lean to cornmeal is because it doesn't melt away when scrubbing with it, the way sugar and salt tend to do. However, sugar and salt work well if you work quickly in the shower.

You'll find lots of great recipes online for making your own skin scrubs and soothing bath salts using everyday ingredients found in your kitchen. Experiment with what you have and let me know what you come up with and how it works. Meanwhile, here's to conquering that chronic legacy of summer—weathered and dry skin—as we move into the cooler months of fall and winter.